Green Beatitudes ~ What I Would Say If I Were Speaking Last

A few days ago a friend of mine was preparing a speech for an Interior Design industry function and asked me what I would say if I were speaking about being green. There were other speakers before her, architects and builders and she would be the last to speak. I put myself in that position and can only imagine how the audience at that point would be exhausted with data, tired of fear inducing talk about chemicals, bored with the same rhetoric in general. So I told her I would just say the following:

Be Grateful ~ when you are in a state of being grateful it is quite difficult to be wasteful.

Be Aware ~ of the needs of others. When you are cognizant of the many individuals that are in a state of need, it is unthinkable to dispose or hoard items rather than donate what could be life supporting to others.

Be Protective ~ when your treat the earth like family or a friend you are mindful of not wanting to harm it's well being with disregard.

Be Vigilant~ open your eyes and your mind to new ways of doing old things in a more eco-responsible fashion.

Be Generous ~ volunteer your time to an environmental cause that embodies a solution to a problem that you can relate to.

Be Nurturing ~ plant a tree, plant a green seed in a child's mind, plant good will in general.

Be Proactive ~ ask your grocer, your home supply store, your office, etc to obtain merchandise and supplies that are less toxic and safer for everyone. Ask repeatedly if necessary.

Be Joyous ~ operating in a joyful state does less harm, protects your immune system and that of others, induces optimism and attracts a kinder attitude in general, I can't think of anything greener than that.

Tamara ~ thank your for your kind words. My friend didn't use it, but I am speaking at a pet's health symposium and I will. Just wanted to give it a preview and see if there were any comments, so I do appreciate it. It's interesting that most of us don't discuss that it's really quite a simple underlying mentatily that helps us obtain a sense of greeness in our lives. Having said that, I suppose it is an underlying mentality that helps us obtain and keep anything we desire in our lives.

Michelle-- I hope it was because your friend found something equally wonderful to say and didn't opt for something "safe". As for the underlying mentality, true on both counts. Many of us don't want to make those small shifts that could make such a difference in the world. We've been trained not to "rock the boat" and so go on with the status quo, even when we know in our hearts it isn't the right thing to do.

Hi Tamara ~ my friend went the safe route and did fine. However, I don't think she was highly memorable in that arena, so did not optimize the short time she was on to its fullest. She is a very well known designer so she may not need the initial recognition but I don't feel she shifted perception of her to include another quality she possesses as a green designer in a compelling way. As established professionals it is sometimes more difficult to expand our brand than nurture it from infancy.

Michelle , thanks for the ideas ! I've been invited to speak at multi-office annual RE meeting next month about Green Building & hope to instill some Green Passion in them ! I know it will be like " herding cats" , but I think I can keep them interested ! Keepin' it Green !

Hi Ed, you will be great. Are you giving a hand out or something they can take with them to remember you? (Not that you are not memorable enough) but something so they can revisit the seeds you have planted...tomorow I am going to blog about something I think is great you could give them, depending on how many are in attendance. I will email you about it as well.

Tamara you are so right, stepping out of the lines is hardest sometimes when you have a good thing going rather than nothing to lose. Ironric isn't it. Visionaries among us don't frame it that way, but for the average among us, me inlcuded, it is at times a paintful but worthwhile stretch.

Hi Mary, in the end, it appears that ensuing behaviour really has the greatest impact when enouraging a point of view. Words ring hollow without intentions that are followed through. I have a long way to go as well. I just thought for an audience, it is perhpas more striking to convey a message of action and do's than a bunch of do-nots. Thank you for the ecouragment to use this in my talk.

What a nice comment Chuck. It is great to run into you again. Whenever I read your blog or a comment of yours, I always think you, as one of the fortunate among us, to have been in the midst of such a literary genious as Borges while at the Argentinian deli.

Hi Meris, thank you for the lovely compliment. I mainly blog for one of my companies that needs a boost. It is the only wayI feeI that I can publically set it apart from all the other carpet and air duct cleaning companies that flood the market, whether they are eco-friendly or not. We do pro-bono work for lower income families that are in need with chidren who are ill with repsiratory illnesses and such, but that info to our consumer base is, and should be, unknown. solely for advertising purposes. It's increasingly difficult to stay on top of the search engines as everyone is getting SEO savvy as well. I really don't know how realtors do it!

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